Seeing whatever concept you have of God, a higher power, universal energy, or spirit as the source of Reiki energy
Using Reiki to build upon and supplement your own personal growth and healing practices
Feeling ready to make some changes in your life and let Reiki help you do that
Taking what you like from the book (and Reiki) and leaving the rest
Don’t worry if you don’t really believe in Reiki — Reiki can work for everyone, even someone who doesn’t believe in it.
Icons Used in This Book
Like all For Dummies books, this book features icons to help you navigate the information. Here’s what they mean.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the material in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this product comes with some access-anywhere goodies on the web. Check out the free Cheat Sheet for info on the Reiki healing system, Reiki training levels, and more. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Reiki For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
The beauty of this book, like all For Dummies books, is that you can start reading anyplace you like. You can flip through the book and see what page opens up first, or you can scan the Table of Contents for chapters of interest.
You can always read from Chapter 1 and continue onward, though I don’t assume that you’ll read every single chapter or that you’ll read the chapters in order. If you’re totally new to Reiki, I suggest starting with Chapter 1 for an overview. Then you may want to jump to Chapters 5 and 6 to see what Reiki can do for you. I wish you peace and well-being with your Reiki journey.
Part 1
Getting Started with Reiki
IN THIS PART …
Check out basic information on what Reiki is and what it’s not. Reiki is a natural and simple way to achieve healing at all levels: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Reiki is a Japanese word for “spiritual energy.”
Find out about the founders of Reiki. The system of Reiki has spread throughout the world since it was founded by Mikao Usui in Japan. As Reiki has evolved through changes made by different Reiki masters, it still retains its essence: to provide healing to all who seek it.
Discover the five underlying principles of Reiki and how this energy system compares and contrasts with other types of energy healing.
Chapter 1
Reiki: Connecting with Life-Force Energy
IN THIS CHAPTER
You’re deeply relaxed while lying on the Reiki table as the practitioner lays hands on different parts of your body. Impressed that this gentle laying on of hands can bring you such peace and joy, you want to know more about it. You’ve come to the right place. This book is a guide to the basic practice of Reiki.
This book describes how to use Reiki to heal yourself and your family members and even treat people who are far away. Reiki techniques can also be used for your pets, your food, and the earth. The more you use Reiki, the more uses you’ll find for it. In this chapter, you find out how Reiki works, where Reiki comes from, and what help Reiki can give you. You can even discover how to channel the Reiki energy yourself so that you have a lifelong tool to use for yourself and others. You get a taste of what Reiki is all about in these next several pages.
Discovering What Reiki Is and Isn’t
Reiki is both of the following:
A healing system that channels universal life-force energy: Mikao Usui originally developed this system in the early 1900s in Japan. For more on Reiki’s beginning, see the later section “Exploring the History of Reiki” as well as Chapter 3.
The name of the energy itself:Rei means spiritual wisdom, and ki means energy, so Reiki means spiritual energy. See Figure 1-1, which illustrates the word Reiki in Japanese characters.
